The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1887-09-17
THE NATIONAL GAME.
Experience of an Amateur Under
tho New Rules.

went out on Monday to see n game
Of the ncwly-rcyiscd baseball at the
Polo Grounds ! went at the instance
Of 1rcnor. who solcmnly assured me
that an intimate knowledge of base
ball was vital 10 any one who desired
10 comprehend serious questions Of po-
litical economy. He wanted my honest
opinion of the new rules. As | was
totally unacquaintcd with the old rules.
it can be- seen that ! approached the
revised game absolutely without bias.
The first time ! ever played base
ball was pitcher in the Junior Giants
at college. The Juniors were 10 play
apracticc match with the Senior Giants
that day, and rs the two regular pitch
crs and both substitutes were still in
the hospital resting from the game
played the previous week, ! was called
upon tO serve. | served one inning. |
made the one brilliant play, stopping
"a swift ball with the lowest button on
my vest, and then, being somewhat
tired and out of breath. ! went to the
hospital 10 lie down, and took no fur
thcr interest in the game.
ann free 10 confess do not like the
new rules. There is too little blood
shed allowed. and the spectator sell
dom gets his money worth except by
accident There were only four play
crs permanently disabled ON Monday
and but nine spectators, including my
self, crippled for life. admit taking
n sudden and deep interest in this last
incident, but up to that time the game
was painfully monotonous.
Ten years ago, when some ingenious
assassin invented the undcrhand throw.
an immense amount of journalistic
comment was excited, for the reporters
box was purposcly put Immediately be-
hind the catcher, and when the pitcher
failed To slay that dodging gentleman
the ball was almost sure TO create n
vacancy ia the city department Of some
powerful journal and stimulate the
junior ranks of the profession. A year
later the "curvc' was invented. where
by skillful pitcher could twist ball
completely around his ballcd opponent
W lllf lllls NllIhf ~ liiH'ill anu Slllllt
the umpire in the cara feat always
dclighting the spectators. A combina-
tion of these systems was then intro
duccd, and the trained destroyer was
enabled to either drive the ball through
n double thickness of his own team,
pcrforatc the batter. cut n Swath in the
grand stand or execute the umpire. a.
hc pleased and as he generally pleased
the game became n marvel of beauty
and excitement. and left nothing To bc
desired but increased accommodations
at the morguc.
Unfortunately, this delightful free
dom with life and limb in the National
game had its drawbacks. 1t was soon
discovered 10y the managers of the
League that although umpircs were of
no earthly value while living and i'm
health, they were costly while in n
mauglcd condition, and left avaricious
widows. who took the narrow-mindcd
view that nothing less than five
thousand dollars would settle the
! hill. Sometimes. too, the brutal
! Interference uf the police was
carried to the extent of removing
the pitcher 10 jail where the sordid
authorities kept him until mob of his
admirers enforced his release. So,
too. i'm the opinion of the frugal League
managers. the destruction of spectators,
which occurred from time to time when
pitcher WAS careless or trying 10 he
funny, was injurious, rs the constant
removal of dead bodies from the first
row distracted the attention of thought
ful spectators from the more serious
points i'm the game. Then again, when
pitcher had manned or killed a player
of the opposite nine 10y a good shot, the
adverse pitcher. when his turn came.
would consider retaliation n duty, and
sometimes there would not bc four left
on a side for the last innings, whicl,
intcrfcrcd with the score. These con-
sidcratious-- -paltry. perhaps. but pru-
/ drnt-lcd To the revision of the pitchers
| methods. and now he is limited To the
| iniliction of comminutcd fractures and
mortal but not iustautancously fatal
wounds. He is limited To two umpires
week, and il he Kills moro than that
number is liable to two dollars fine for
each oifcnsc.
The rules for the umpire have been
greatly improved lie is now clad in
convict's uniform without stripes, yet
easily distinguishablc, and is convcn-
icntly placed so rs TO bc within range
of u projcctilo thrown from any part of
the grand-stand, and opportunity is af-
fordcd for mobbing him at any stage of
the game when the spectators feel IL
necessary to relieve their feelings.
Eggs, vegetables and cream cakes. all
useful as reminders to the umpire that
the eyes of the community are upon
him. are sold AT low rates at convenient
stands, aud have been found To bc quite
rs ornamental 10 him as the bricks.
fence picEets and other tokens allowed
10y the old rules.
To facilitate the umpire in making
wrong decision, and thus adding TO the